South Adams High School and the Berne community are grieving the death of 16-year-old Gabe Steiner, a South Adams football player who died this week after a crash in rural Adams County late Saturday night.
Steiner's family said he fought for three and a half days after sustaining life-threatening brain injuries in the crash, and died Wednesday afternoon. Reporting on the crash said his car was struck by a vehicle that allegedly failed to stop at a stop sign. That allegation has not been proven in court.
Steiner was the oldest son of Scott Steiner, South Adams' defensive coordinator, and Amber Steiner. His father described the week as a nightmare, and family, teammates and coaches gathered at Lutheran Hospital in Fort Wayne after the crash.
South Adams, in the middle of a 9-2 season, considered calling off Friday's Class 1A sectional championship game at home against Fremont. The family said Gabe would want the game played, and his father plans to be on the field in his usual coaching role. The school community has rallied around the family in the days since the crash.
